Socrates Argument Analysis

In an attempt to define the idea of justice in The Republic, Socrates uses an inductive argument from analogy to draw parallels between a just man and a just city. Using a disjunctive syllogism method of deduction, Socrates distinguishes the elements of the soul to show that a just man is a reflection of a just city. While I agree to the distinct elements of the soul, I find Socrates’ claim that a just man is a reflection of a just city objectionable. To establish my view, I will start with a reconstruction of Socrates’ premises by providing the explanation the argument was built on. Next, I will develop my objection to his premises and consider a response that Socrates might provide for my point. To establish his point that the appetitive

Premise nine states that of the distinct elements of the soul, the desire of a man is due to the appetitive part and logic stems from the rational part of the soul. Using the analogy of thirst as a desire, “if therefore there is something in it that resist thirst it must be something in it other than impulse which is dragging it like a wild animal” (439b). Socrates shows that humans are innately torn by separate elements of the soul that each seek to drive a man in separate directions.
Basing of premise nine, Socrates arrives at inference two, which states that the human soul is made from at least two distinct elements, based on the human urges for satisfaction while the subtle restraint within. Socrates defines the separate elements as “the element of prevention, when present, due to our reason while the urges and impulse due to our feelings and unhealthy cravings” (439d). The two distinct elements that Socrates postulates are the element of desire and the element of logic that steers every man in their

This meant that a person cannot be moving and stationary at the same time when using a fixed reference frame. Using this idea, Socrates formulates the distinct elements of the soul in order to explain the tension between men decision making process. This premise is faulty as it is based on the assumption of singularity. In the recent advancement of science, it was discovered that the nature of duality is pervasive throughout our lives. Discovered by Schrödinger who create the paradox of the Schrödinger’s cat, items can take on a dual nature within the same reference frame. Using the example of light, it exists as both waves and particles despite their opposite nature. This could be adopted into the soul of men, where he is affected by two distinct forces formed by the same